The Cleopatras

Clear, convincing, and meticulously researched, Persians, The Age of the Great Kings is not just a timely reassessment of the world's first superpower - it's a wonderfully accessible page-turner to boot.

A brilliant feat of resurrection, restoring to the Persian Empire the colour, brilliance, and complexity that renders it one of the most fascinating and influential of ancient civilizations, and of which for so long, in most histories of antiquity, it has been bled.

Superb, authoritative, and compelling, a fresh history of the Persian Great Kings that combines exuberant storytelling with outstanding scholarship that is both entertaining and bracingly revisionist, filled with a cast of ruthless conquerors, queens, eunuchs and concubines that brings the Persian world blazingly to life through Persian instead of the usual Greek sources. The result is a tour de force.

Llewellyn-Jones is very good at righting the record. - The Sunday Times

A masterful account and evocation of the history and culture of the first true world empire

A lively and highly readable revisionist history. - Literary Review

We are all familiar with the sensationalized infamy of Cleopatra VII, Octavian's propagandistic tale told and re-told for centuries in history books and on the stage and screen of a woman who imperiled her people. But there has always been far more to Cleopatra's story. Llewellyn-Jones's The Cleopatras unlocks the fascinating history of the many queens of her era, taking the reader into the political intrigue, murderous violence, incest, and epic power struggles that marked their dynasty and examining the ways in which these queens somehow wielded power within a deeply patriarchal regime.

A thrilling biography, filled with the imperial ambitions and merciless intrigues of one of world history's most brutal families, the Ptolemy dynasty of Egypt. Llewellyn-Jones's book places female power at the center through its seven Queen Cleopatras, culminating in the gripping story of the last of the Cleopatras and her alliances with Caesar and Antony. A real treat for those who relish epic histories of family power.

Admirably readable, written with verve and a fine feeling for the ancient context of these seven queen Cleopatras and their modern afterlives. The first six are seldom studied, but here, what we can know of them is cleverly related to the seventh, the famous Cleopatra.

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones has produced a vivid account of the history of Egypt under Greek rule. Without sensationalizing, he brings the Cleopatras and their dynasty, the Ptolemies, to life, in all their splendor, power, intrigue, incest, debauchery, and ultimate annihilation.

Throughout, Llewellyn-Jones highlights the queens' ruthless determination, framing them as women with a developed sense of gender dynamics and of patriarchy's inequities, whose political project was often-and quite explicitly-to seize power from men. It's an innovative take on an ancient dynasty. - Publishers Weekly

A fascinating look at myriad dynastic dramas that will appeal to readers who want to learn more about the ancient world. This lively recounting of an ancient Egyptian dynasty through a feminist lens is perfect for history students." - Booklist

The Cleopatras captures their stories across times of intrigue and politics, betrayal and battle, triumph and disaster. Some events are truly shocking ... Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones offers a comprehensive and readable history of their truly fascinating lives ... an interesting read that will appeal to anyone looking to find out more about Ancient Egypt, queenship or dynastic history. - All About History